Some of you might remember (probably not) my D1 that I found in an antique store a couple years ago. I bought it only because I kind of felt sorry for it--plus, the price wasn't too unreasonable at $62. I later found out that the 'great' paint was really a cheap rattlecan job, with a mismatched handset, no subset cord, old appliance handset cord, newer dial, etc. I could even see primer under the cradle where the painter missed! I put it in a room of the house as a daily dialer, combined with a subset that was also repainted at some point.
Recently, our house is being remodeled, and I figured that this phone was due for a proper restoration with a new coat of paint to look nice in the house. I took some Acetone to the cheap spray paint, which was removed faster than any paint I have ever stripped before. I noticed that the primer wasn't coming off very easily. Huh, this guy must have used different kinds of paint for the primer and basecoat. I looked up at a Green 2500 at the other end of the room--then back down to my D1--then back up at the 2500.
Wait a minute...they're the same color! :o
It looks like the 'Primer' on this phone is actually Moss Green. I suspect this was a Continental in its past life!
I haven't gone any further than the 'during' pictures here, so I don't know how worn the cradle area is. However, the oval base seems to be near perfect, with only a couple negligible nicks here and there. After I realized what this was, I nauseously checked everything I hit with Acetone to see if any of the original Green was worn through. Nope! This is one of WE's more bulletproof coatings; unaffected by Acetone at all. Still, I'll stick to Denatured Alcohol from here on out for the rest of the paint removal!
Wow! How did I manage that? Owning a Green Continental for almost 3 years without even knowing it! Worse yet, I didn't think it was fit for my collection, leaving it in a different room for regular use!
It looks like I'll need a Green Thermoplastic F1 (finding a Green painted F1 in nice shape is pretty unrealistic) and a dial to get this back in nice shape! I'll keep updating here as this progresses!
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=13930
Gee, a Continental in sheep's clothing, and a black sheep at that. You could try to find moss green paint and paint that handset, but the cords and the dial would be more costly. Even cracked up green thermoplastic 302s bring a lot these days.
But maybe someone has a green handset just sitting there? Also there are painted moss green 302s you may find with a somewhat decent handset. They were done by those resellers in the 1960s and 70s and you could get them for $12.95 back in the day. I see them sell every now and then on eBay, but not for $12.95. That wouldn't even cover the shipping.
That's a great story. I guess you never know what is lurking under the paint. Keep us posted on the progress.
Here's today's update.
I didn't figure the cradle would escape unscathed, and I was right. There's a huge section of paint missing on the front of the cradle, showing the original black underneath. The paint you see in the dial 'cup' appears to be original, and must have been masked off when painted Green.
I eventually learned that the Green paint becomes soft and dull after several immediate repeat passes of either Acetone or Denatured Alcohol, so that was a challenge. It didn't help that it was hard to distinguish black spray paint that needed removing (on top of the Green) and original Black paint that had to stay on the phone (under the Green). The Green paint was sandwiched between two coats of black. Much of the cradle was like that, but fortunately, I got 99.999% of the spray paint off without removing any Green. :)
I'm pretty sure all of the black you see is the original coat before this was turned into a Continental. I lightly polished the surface and waxed it. The pictures don't do it justice--it looks fantastic in person!
I have a 1956 #6 dial that has a new coat of White paint drying in the basement. I got a correct style dial plate, and located a slightly damaged open center fingerwheel. The damaged fingerwheel doesn't bother me much--my Pekin Red Continental also has a damaged fingerwheel.
Other than cords from OPW and a handset, this thing is almost done! ;D
Awesome! You sure have incredible luck in the things you find.
Must be living right! ;)
Nice job cleaning that up , Christian!! Question: would that phone have had a green plastic F-1, or did they also paint black (or brown) ones green as well?
Paul,,,,,Painted F1 with green cloth cords. Handset cord either straight or curly......sharp looking sets....Doug
Thanks guys!! I guess I just get lucky with stuff like this lately!
Quote from: RotarDad on November 11, 2017, 09:14:54 PM
Nice job cleaning that up , Christian!! Question: would that phone have had a green plastic F-1, or did they also paint black (or brown) ones green as well?
Thanks Paul!
This phone should either have a painted black F1 (grooved) or painted brown. Painted black is by far the most commonly found.
Technically, a Green plastic F1 wouldn't be correct from what we have seen, but it's possible. Refurb shops used what they could to make these phones, using #4, #5, #6, and even various dial blanks and black and brown F1s to use up tons of spare parts; so I would assume that if someone at a refurb shop found a spare Green Thermoplastic F1, they wouldn't hesitate to use it. Imperials are found with Ivory thermoplastic handsets about half the time anyway.
I found a company that will make matching color spray paint for any Pantone number. Problem: I need to find the matching Pantone color for this! ::)
Just my opinion from comparing it to your pictures...
https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/10298-C
You can look at their colors until the cows come home, but find something close and paint both the handset and base since both need painting and it should look fine. You might want to find a worse looking F1 than you have now. That one still has lots of shine and it would be a shame to sand and paint it.
Use this link to try and get it closer if you like. Having it next to the computer screen should help.
https://www.pantone.com/color-finder
Actually, I think I found a better solution. The problem was bugging me all night. I did tons of research, and I think I have the answer.
There's a color scanning device called NIX Mini that I found on Amazon. You hold it against an object, let it scan, and it will transfer the color information of the scanned object to a smartphone connected via Bluetooth. The info includes different paint brands that supply that paint (all wall paint brands such as Behr, Sherwin Williams, etc), RGB and CMYK values, and a HEX code. That HEX code can be entered into a converter online which converts it to the matching Pantone number. Another website allows you to order various kinds of spray paint and touchup markers in that exact Pantone number.
In short--I think I'll be able to match the paint perfectly!! As for the expense of the device...I can use it for countless other projects. My Mahogany Brown 500 needs a matching color dial blank. My Pink Mushroom needs matching paint for the light hood. My 1234Gs need matching subsets.
I'll have to wait and see, but this should go smoothly! ;D
Quote from: jsowers on November 12, 2017, 12:52:50 AM
Just my opinion from comparing it to your pictures...
https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/10298-C
You can look at their colors until the cows come home, but find something close and paint both the handset and base since both need painting and it should look fine. You might want to find a worse looking F1 than you have now. That one still has lots of shine and it would be a shame to sand and paint it.
Use this link to try and get it closer if you like. Having it next to the computer screen should help.
https://www.pantone.com/color-finder
Thanks for matching the color in the picture to Pantone, by the way. I don't think I'll end up repainting the base, because the current paint is the only thing that makes this a Continental. If I repaint the base, there's nothing that really connects it back to being authentic. Plus, the paint seems worn, not chipping or failing. The missing paint running down the front of the cradle appears to be from someone rubbing their thumb there every time the handset was picked up or set down.
I have plenty of seriously damaged and worn F1s that I won't use for anything else. Any of those will be perfect for this!
I got the new dial installed. I'll post a picture in a little while.
Christian,
What you are doing and are about to do is very interesting and innovative. Once you establish the perfect Continental green, Ivory, Peking Red and no doubt other colors, you could help other collectors secure the colors they need for their projects.(?)
Assuming you would be willing to do so.
Perhaps others could place their own orders based on your research?
Benny
Quote from: Pourme on November 12, 2017, 12:41:06 PM
Christian,
What you are doing and are about to do is very interesting and innovative. Once you establish the perfect Continental green, Ivory, Peking Red and no doubt other colors, you could help other collectors secure the colors they need for their projects.(?)
Assuming you would be willing to do so.
Perhaps others could place their own orders based on your research?
Benny
Yeah, sure I would!!
I'm thinking about making a separate topic for all 302 and 500 color values, codes, Pantone numbers, etc; once I get the color scanner. Heck, I have all of the 500 colors, and have a couple examples of the 302 colors. To make the list complete, I'd need examples of Old Rose, Gray Green and Dark Blue (302), assuming the last two aren't the same as Moss Green and Mediterranean Blue.
I would also provide the Pantone number and a link to the paint company that makes the Pantone-matched paint. All you need to do is enter the number into a search box there and order what you want.
Here's it is with a new dial. It's a 1956 6A with a 1953 dial plate.
Christian....Is the green paint any better on the back, loosen the cradle and spin it around....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on November 12, 2017, 05:32:31 PM
Christian....Is the green paint any better on the back, loosen the cradle and spin it around....Doug
Yep, it's much better on the back. Great idea!!
I sprayed some Fluid Film down in the threads for the cradle, after failing to get the fastener off. I'll try again later after it soaks in for awhile.
Quote from: Doug Rose on November 12, 2017, 05:32:31 PM
Christian....Is the green paint any better on the back, loosen the cradle and spin it around....Doug
It's not as easy as that. It's notched to fit one way only.
I thought it was notched, but wasn't certain...I knew someone would speak up if it was...
Dangit! >:(
To be honest, I'm a little relieved. I've been dreading trying to remove that all night.
Well, I don't mind the flaws all that much. Worst case, I touch it up later on, but I think of it like finger marks on a candlestick shaft.
It'll look much better when the whole thing is done! :)
Sorry...bad advice....I had never done it and didn't realize there was a notch...see you can teach an old doug new tricks 8)
Here's the summary of what happened since the last update. I talked a little about it in a topic in the Restoration section, but here goes...
I got my color scanner in the mail 3 days ago. I got it set up, used a little trial and error with different colors in different lighting, and got the results I wanted with Moss Green. The paint company only accepts exact matches to Pantone, RAL, and Government/Federal colors. The scanner only gives me info for primary color percentages, and HEX code. HEX is the unique code of the color scanned, which can be used to search for similar paint colors that already exist.
I tried using a HEX-to-Pantone number converter using the HEX code I got from the scanner. Nothing that I found was even close. Everything was either too green, too brown, or too gray. I searched and searched for hours, until my Dad suggested searching RAL colors. I tried that--and found it! RAL 7009, named Green Grey. I ordered two 11oz cans in that color from the paint company for over $60 with shipping. They showed up today.
I tested some out on a cardboard box flap. Looks pretty close to me! EDIT:
As the paint on the cardboard continues to dry, it gets closer and closer to the phone's color.
As for the handset; I found an F1 on another D1 in absolutely HORRIBLE shape. It's incredibly pitted and worn...perfect for this project!
Here's the cap of the paint can that I used to test it on a smoother surface.
The lighter colored areas are still wet, while the darker areas are tacky. I accidentally bought water-based instead of oil-based, and while it doesn't make much difference with durability or color, I'm buying oil-based next time. This paint is definitely strange...doesn't behave at all like regular lacquer.
I do like the fume-free aspect of this, though. It smells very faintly like latex wall paint while it dries. ???
Christian,
Oil based paint dries from the inside out. Water based dries from the outside (forms a outer shell) in. There is a difference in behavior.
Benny
Here's the handset after using the base color coat, followed by clearcoat. I do not like--nor do I recommend in any way--the water-based paint from Hedrix, as I explained in my other thread. I'm getting the regular lacquer next time...
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19244
Overall, I'd say this turned out great. The color difference varies in different lighting, but it's still dead-on in pretty much all lighting conditions. I used U-POL Clear#1 clear coat from Amazon, and it worked great! It has a very hard, smooth, extremely glossy finish--a very professional appearance. It still needs some time to fully cure, but everything worked out very smoothly.
Christian - The paint looks awesome in terms of both finish and color match! Great work!!